Variable displacement vane pump

Abstract

A variable displacement vane pump includes a first and a second fluid pressure chamber (31,32) where the cam ring (4) is made eccentric to the rotor (2) by a pressure difference between the first and the second fluid pressure chamber (31,32), a control valve (21) for controlling a pressure of the first and the second fluid pressure chamber (31,32) so that an eccentric amount of the cam ring (4) is reduced to be small with an increase in a rotation speed of the rotor (2), and a flow amount limiting member (22e) for limiting a discharge flow amount of the operating fluid in the second fluid pressure chamber (32) at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring (4) to the rotor (2) becomes small by supplying the operating fluid to the first fluid pressure chamber (31) and by discharging the operating fluid from the second fluid pressure chamber (32).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a variable displacement vane pump used as a hydraulic supply source in hydraulic equipment.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

A conventional variable displacement vane pump changes a pump discharge displacement by changing an eccentric amount of a cam ring to a rotor.

JP8-200239A discloses a pump which is provided with a first fluid pressure chamber 36 and a second fluid pressure chamber 37 formed in a outer peripheral side of a cam ring 17 for moving and displacing the cam ring 17 and a control valve 30 of a spool type for controlling a supply fluid pressure to each fluid pressure chamber 36 and 37 in accordance with a discharge amount of the pressurized fluid from a pump chamber. The pump disclosed in JP8-200239A is, for restricting an oscillation phenomenon of the cam ring 17, provided with a first orifice 50, a second orifice 51 and a third orifice 52 located in fluid passages 46 and 47 leading from a pump discharge side to one chamber 32a of the control valve 30 and in fluid passages 35 and 19b leading from the control valve 30 to the first fluid pressure chamber 36.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the pump disclosed in JP8-200239A, however, when the cam ring 17 moves in a direction of increasing an eccentric amount to a rotor 15, since the fluid in the first fluid pressure chamber 36 is subjected to resistance caused by the orifice 52 interposed in the fluid passages 35 and 19b leading from the control valve 30 to the first fluid chamber 36, it is difficult for the fluid to be discharged from the first fluid pressure chamber 36. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount of the pump is degraded.

Therefore, when the orifice 52 is removed for improving the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount of the pump, the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount of the pump is, as shown in FIG. 10, improved, but the flow amount change is increased, causing the difficulty in restricting the oscillation phenomenon of the discharge flow amount.

The present invention is made in view of the foregoing problem and an object of the present invention is to provide a variable displacement vane pump which can restrict an oscillation of a discharge flow amount and improve the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount of the pump.

In order to achieve above object, the present invention provides a variable displacement vane pump having a rotor connected to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes provided in the rotor so as to be capable of reciprocating in a diameter direction of the rotor, a cam ring for accommodating the rotor therein, the cam ring having a cam face in an inner surface thereof on which a front portion of the vane slides by rotation of the rotor and being made eccentric to a center of the rotor, and a pump chamber defined between the rotor and the cam ring, wherein an eccentric amount of the cam ring to the rotor changes, thereby changing a discharge displacement of the pump chamber. The variable displacement vane pump comprises a first fluid pressure chamber and a second fluid pressure chamber which are defined in an accommodating space in the outer periphery of the cam ring, wherein the cam ring is made eccentric to the rotor by a pressure difference between the first fluid pressure chamber and the second fluid pressure chamber, a control valve which operates in response to a pump discharge pressure for controlling a pressure of an operating fluid in each of the first fluid pressure chamber and the second fluid pressure chamber in such a manner that the eccentric amount of the cam ring to the rotor becomes small with an increase in a rotation speed of the rotor, and a flow amount limiting member for limiting a discharge flow amount of the operating fluid in the second fluid pressure chamber at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring to the rotor becomes small by supplying the operating fluid to the first fluid pressure chamber and discharging the operating fluid from the second fluid pressure chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section perpendicular to a dive shaft in a variable displacement vane pump according to an embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section in parallel to the dive shaft in the variable displacement vane pump according to the embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a hydraulic circuit diagram in the variable displacement vane pump according to the embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a hydraulic circuit diagram at the maximum discharge flow amount in the variable displacement vane pump according to the embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram at the minimum discharge flow amount in the variable displacement vane pump according to the embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a discharge flow amount characteristic in the variable displacement vane pump according to the embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a hydraulic circuit diagram in a variable displacement vane pump according to a different embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a hydraulic circuit diagram in the variable displacement vane pump according to the different embodiment in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a discharge flow amount characteristic in the conventional variable displacement vane pump.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing the discharge flow amount characteristic in the conventional variable displacement vane pump.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment in the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A variable displacement vane pump 100 according to an embodiment in the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The variable displacement vane pump 100 (hereinafter, referred to as “vane pump” simply) is used as a hydraulic supply source for hydraulic equipment mounted in a vehicle. The hydraulic equipment is, for example, a power steering apparatus or a transmission.

In the vane pump 100, power of an engine (not shown) is transmitted to a drive shaft 1 and thereby a rotor 2 connected to the drive shaft 1 rotates. The rotor 2 rotates in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1.

The vane pump 100 is provided with a plurality of vanes 3 provided in the rotor 2 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the diameter direction of the rotor 2, and a cam ring 4 which accommodates the rotor 2 therein where a front portion of the vane 3 is in sliding contact with a cam face 4a constituting an inner periphery of the cam ring 4 by rotation of the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4 is eccentric to a center of the rotor 2.

The drive shaft 1 is supported through a bush 27 (refer to FIG. 2) to a pump body 10 so as to rotate freely thereto. The pump body 10 is provided with a pump accommodating concave portion 10a formed therein for accommodating the cam ring 4. A seal 20 is provided at an end of the pump body 10 for preventing a leak of lubricant between an outer periphery of the drive shaft 1 and an inner periphery of the bush 27.

A side plate 6 is arranged in a bottom surface 10b of the pump accommodating concave portion 10a and abuts on one end portion of each of the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4. An opening of the pump accommodating concave portion 10a is closed by a pump cover 5 abutting on the other end portion of each of the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4. The pump cover 5 is provided with a circular fitting portion 5a formed therein for being fitted into the pump accommodating concave portion 10a where an end surface of the fitting portion 5a abuts on the other end portion of each of the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4. The pump cover 5 is fastened to a ring-shaped skirt portion 10c of the pump body 10 by bolts 8.

In this way, the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6 are arranged in such a manner as to sandwich both side surfaces of each of the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4. In consequence, pump chambers 7 are defined to be partitioned by the respective vanes 3 between the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4.

The cam ring 4 is a ring-shaped member and has a suction region for expanding a displacement of the pump chamber 7 partitioned by and between the respective vanes 3 by rotation of the rotor 2 and a discharge region for contracting the displacement of the pump chamber 7 partitioned by and between the respective vanes 3 by rotation of the rotor 2. The pump chamber 7 suctions an operating oil (operating fluid) in the suction region and discharges the operating oil in the discharge region. In FIG. 1, a part above a horizontal line passing through a center of the cam ring 4 shows the suction region and a part under the horizontal line shows the discharge region.

A ring-shaped adapter ring 11 is fitted onto an inner peripheral surface of the pump accommodating concave portion 10a in such a manner as to surround the cam ring 4. The adapter ring 11 has both side surfaces sandwiched by the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6 in the same way as the rotor 2 and the cam ring 4.

A support pin 13 is supported on an inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 and extends in parallel with the drive shaft 1, and both ends of the support pin 13 each are inserted into the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6. The cam ring 4 is supported by the support pin 13, and the cam ring 4 swings around the support pin 13 as a supporting point inside the adapter ring 11.

Since the support pin 13 has both ends each inserted into the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6 and supports the cam ring 4, the support pin 13 restricts a relative rotation of the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6 to the cam ring 4.

A groove 11a extending in parallel with the drive shaft 1 is formed in the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 at a position axisymmetric to the support pin 13. A seal member 14 is attached in the groove 11a to be in sliding contact with an outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 at the swinging of the cam ring 4.

A first fluid pressure chamber 31 and a second fluid pressure chamber 32 are defined in a space between the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 by the support pin 13 and the seal member 14, which is an accommodating space in the outer periphery of the cam ring 4.

The cam ring 4 swings around the support pin 13 as a supporting point caused by a pressure difference in operation oil between the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32. When the cam ring 4 swings around the support pin 13 as the supporting point, an eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 changes to change a discharge displacement of the pump chamber 7. In a case where a pressure in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 is larger than a pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber 32, the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is reduced, so that the discharge displacement of the pump chamber 7 becomes small. In contrast, in a case where the pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is larger than the pressure in the first fluid pressure chamber 31, the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is increased, so that the discharge displacement of the pump chamber 7 becomes large. In this way, in the vane pump 100, the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 changes caused by the pressure difference between the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32, thereby changing the discharge displacement of the pump chamber 7.

A swelling portion 12 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 in the second fluid pressure chamber 32. The swelling portion 12 serves as a cam ring movement restricting member for restricting the movement of the cam ring 4 in a direction of decreasing the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2. The swelling portion 12 defines the minimum eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 and maintains a state where an axis center of the rotor 2 is shifted from an axis center of the cam ring 4 in a state where the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 abuts on the swelling portion 12.

The swelling portion 12 is formed so that the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 does not become a zero. That is, the swelling portion 12 is configured so that even in a state where the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 abuts on the swelling portion 12, the minimum eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is ensured, causing the pump chamber 7 to discharge the operating oil. In this way, the swelling portion 12 secures the minimum discharge displacement of the pump chamber 7.

It should be noted that the swelling portion 12 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 instead of being formed on the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11. In addition, in a case where the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32 are defined between the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the pump accommodating concave portion 10a without providing the adapter ring 11, the swelling portion 12 may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the pump accommodating concave portion 10a.

The pump cover 5 is provided with a suction port 15 (refer to FIG. 2) formed therein as opened in an arc shape corresponding to the suction region of the pump chamber 7. The side plate 6 is provided with a discharge port 16 formed therein as opened in an arc shape corresponding to the discharge region of the pump chamber 7. Each of the suction port 15 and the discharge port 16 is preferably formed in an arc shape similar to that of each of the suction region and the discharge region of the pump chamber 7, but may be formed in any shape as long as the suction port 15 is positioned so as to be communicated with the suction region and the discharge port 16 is positioned so as to be communicated with the discharge region.

Since the relative rotation of the pump cover 5 and the side plate 6 to the cam ring 4 is restricted by the support pin 13, the position shift of the suction port 15 to the suction region and the position shift of the discharge port 16 to the discharge region are prevented.

The suction port 15 is formed in the pump cover 5 so as to be communicated with a suction passage 17 formed in the pump cover 5 to introduce the operating oil in the suction passage 17 into the suction region of the pump chamber 7.

The discharge port 16 is formed in the side plate 6 so as to be communicated with a high-pressure chamber 18 formed in the pump body 10 to introduce the operating oil discharged from the discharge region of the pump chamber 7 into the high-pressure chamber 18.

The high-pressure chamber 18 is defined by sealing a groove portion 10d formed as opened in a ring-shape to the bottom surface 10b in the pump fluid concave portion 10a by the side plate 6. The high-pressure chamber 18 is connected to a discharge passage 19 (refer to FIG. 3) formed in the pump body 10 for introducing the operating oil into the hydraulic equipment provided outside of the vane pump 100.

The high-pressure chamber 18 is communicated through a narrow passage 36 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 3) with the second fluid pressure chamber 32 and the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 is regularly introduced into the second fluid pressure chamber 32. That is, the cam ring 4 is all the time subjected to pressures in the direction of increasing the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 from the second fluid pressure chamber 32.

Since the high-pressure chamber 18 is formed in the pump body 10, the side plate 6 is pressed toward the side of the rotor 2 and the vane 3 by pressures of the operating oil introduced into the high-pressure chamber 18. In consequence, a clearance of the side plate 6 to the rotor 2 and the vane 3 is reduced to be small, thus prevent the leak of the operating oil. In this way, the high-pressure chamber 18 serves also as a pressure loading mechanism for preventing the leak of the operating oil from the pump chamber 7.

The pump body 10 is provided with a valve accommodating hole 29 formed therein in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the drive shaft 1. A control valve 21 is accommodated in the valve accommodating hole 29 for controlling pressures of the operating oil in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and in the second fluid pressure chamber 32.

The control valve 21 is provided with a spool 22 inserted into the valve accommodating hole 29 in such a manner as to slide freely therein, a first spool chamber 24 defined between one end of the spool 22 and a bottom portion of the valve accommodating hole 29, a second spool chamber 25 defined between the other end of the spool 22 and a plug 23 sealing an opening of the valve accommodating hole 29, and a return spring 26 serving as a urging member accommodated in the second spool chamber 25 for urging the spool 22 in a direction of expanding a displacement in the second spool chamber 25.

The spool 22 is provided with a first land portion 22a and a second land portion 22b sliding along an inner peripheral surface of the valve accommodating hole 29, and a circular groove 22c formed between the first land portion 22a and the second land portion 22b.

A first stopper portion 22d is located in the first spool chamber 24 so as to be connected to the first land portion 22a. The first stopper portion 22d abuts on the bottom portion of the valve accommodating hole 29 when the spool 22 moves in a direction of contracting a displacement in the first spool chamber 24, thereby restricting the movement of the spool 22 within a predetermined region.

A second stopper portion 22e is located in the second spool chamber 25 so as to be connected to the second land portion 22b. The second stopper portion 22e serving as a movement restricting member abuts on the plug 23 when the spool 22 moves in a direction of contracting a displacement in the second spool chamber 25, thereby restricting the movement of the spool 22 within a predetermined region. The return spring 26 is accommodated in the second spool chamber 25 so as to surround the second stopper portion 22e.

The control valve 21 is connected to a first fluid pressure passage 33 communicated with the first fluid pressure chamber 31, a second fluid pressure passage 34 communicated with the second fluid pressure chamber 32, a drain passage 35 communicated with the circular groove 22c and also communicated with the suction passage 17, and a pressure introducing passage 37 (refer to FIG. 3) communicated with the first spool chamber 24 and also communicated with the high-pressure chamber 18.

The first fluid pressure passage 33 and the second fluid pressure passage 34 are formed inside the pump body 10 and also formed so as to penetrate through the adapter ring 11.

The spool 22 stops in a position where a load by the pressures of the operating oil introduced into the first spool chamber 24 and the second spool chamber 25 defined in both ends of the spool 22 balances with an urging force of the return spring 26. Depending on the position of the spool 22, the first fluid pressure passage 33 is opened/closed by the first land portion 22a and the second fluid pressure passage 34 are opened/closed by the second land portion 22b, thereby supplying/discharging the operating oil in each of the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32.

In a case where a total load of the load by the pressure in the second spool chamber 25 and the urging force of the return spring 26 is larger than the load by the pressure in the first spool chamber 24, the return spring 26 extends to position the spool 22 in a state where the first stopper portion 22d abuts on the bottom portion of the valve accommodating hole 29. In this state, as shown in FIG. 1, the first fluid pressure passage 33 is blocked up by the first land portion 22a of the spool 22 and the second fluid pressure passage 34 is blocked up by the second land portion 22b of the spool 22. In consequence, communication between the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the high-pressure chamber 18 is blocked and also communication between the second fluid pressure chamber 32 and the drain passage 35 is blocked.

Since a communicating passage 22g (refer to FIG. 3) is formed in the first land portion 22a for communicating with the circular groove 22c, in a state where the first fluid pressure passage 33 is blocked by the first land portion 22a, the first fluid pressure chamber 31 is communicated with the drain passage 35 through the first fluid pressure passage 33, the communicating passage 22g and the circular groove 22c. Since the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 is all the time introduced through the narrow passage 36 into the second fluid pressure chamber 32, a pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is larger than a pressure in the first fluid pressure chamber 31, and the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is maximized.

In contrast, in a case where the load by the pressure in the first spool chamber 24 is larger than the total load of the load by the pressure in the second spool chamber 25 and the urging force of the return spring 26, the return spring 26 is compressed and the spool 22 moves against the urging force of the return spring 26. In this case, the first fluid pressure passage 33 is communicated with the first spool chamber 24 and is communicated through the first spool chamber 24 with the pressure introducing passage 37. The second fluid pressure passage 34 is communicated with the circular groove 22c of the spool 22 and is communicated through the circular groove 22c with the drain passage 35. Thereby, the first fluid pressure chamber 31 is communicated with the high-pressure chamber 18 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is communicated with the drain passage 35. Accordingly, the pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is smaller than the pressure in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the cam ring 4 moves in a direction of decreasing the eccentric amount to the rotor 2.

The communication between the second fluid pressure passage 34 and the circular groove 22c is made by a notch 22f formed in the second land portion 22b of the spool 22. As a result, an open area of the drain passage 35 to the second fluid pressure chamber 32 increases/decreases in response to the movement amount of the spool 22.

The control valve 21, as described above, controls the pressure of the operating oil in each of the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32 and operates with a pressure difference between before and after an orifice 28 interposed in the discharge passage 19. The operating oil upstream of the orifice 28 is introduced into the first spool chamber 24 and the operating oil downstream of the orifice 28 is introduced into the second spool chamber 25.

That is, the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 is introduced through the pressure introducing passage 37 directly into the first spool chamber 24 without via the orifice 28 and is also introduced through the orifice 28 into the second spool chamber 25. The orifice 28 may be constructed of either a variable type or a stationary type as long as the orifice 28 applies resistance to the flow of the operating oil discharged from the pump chamber 7.

Next, an operation of the vane pump 100 constructed as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a hydraulic circuit diagram at the maximum discharge flow amount in the vane pump 100. FIG. 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram at the minimum discharge flow amount in the vane pump 100.

When power of the engine is transmitted to the drive shaft 1 to rotate the rotor 2, the pump chamber 7 expanded by and between the respective vanes 3 caused by rotation of the rotor 2 suctions the operating oil through the suction port 15 from the suction passage 17. The pump chamber 7 contracted by and between the respective vanes 3 discharges the operating oil through the discharge port 16 into the high-pressure chamber 18. The operating oil discharged into the high-pressure chamber 18 is supplied through the discharge passage 19 into the hydraulic equipment.

When the operating oil passes through the discharge passage 19, a pressure difference occurs between before and after the orifice 28 interposed in the discharge passage 19. The pressure upstream of the orifice 28 is introduced into the first spool chamber 24 and the pressure downstream of the orifice 28 is introduced into the second spool chamber 25. The spool 22 in the control valve 21 moves to a position where a load caused by a pressure difference between the operation oil introduced into the first spool chamber 24 and the operation oil introduced into the second spool chamber 25 balances with an urging force of the return spring 26.

Since a rotation speed of the rotor 2 is small at a pump starting time, the pressure difference between before and after the orifice 28 in the discharge passage 19 is small. Therefore, the spool 22 is, as shown in FIG. 4, moved by the urging force of the return spring 26 to reach a position where the first stopper portion 22d forcibly abuts on the bottom portion of the valve accommodating hole 29.

In this case, the communication between the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the high-pressure chamber 18 is blocked and the first fluid pressure passage 31 is communicated through the communicating passage 22g formed in the first land portion 22a with the drain passage 35. In addition, the communication between the second fluid pressure chamber 32 and the drain passage 35 is blocked. Here, since the cam ring 4 is subjected to the pressure in the direction of increasing the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 by the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 all the time introduced into the second fluid pressure chamber 32 through the narrow passage 36, the cam ring 4 is positioned where the eccentric amount to the rotor 2 is maximized.

In this way, the vane pump 100 discharges the operating oil at the maximum discharge displacement and discharges a flow amount substantially in proportion to the rotation speed of the rotor 2. Thereby, even in a case where the rotation speed of the rotor 2 is small, a sufficient flow amount of the operation oil can be supplied to the hydraulic equipment.

On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the rotor 2 increases, the pressure difference between before and after the orifice 28 in the discharge passage 19 becomes large. Therefore, the spool 22 moves against the urging force of the return spring 26.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the first fluid pressure chamber 31 is communicated through the first spool chamber 24 with the high-pressure chamber 18 and also the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is communicated through the circular groove 22c with the drain passage 35. Therefore, the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 is supplied to the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the operating oil in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 is discharged into the drain passage 35. In consequence, the cam ring 4 moves in the direction of decreasing the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 in response to the pressure difference between the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the second fluid pressure chamber 32.

The movement of the spool 22 causes an increase in a flow amount of the operating oil supplied to the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and also in a flow amount of the operating oil discharged from the second fluid pressure chamber 32, but the movement of the spool 22 is restricted by the abutting of the second stopper portion 22e on the plug 23. Therefore, the flow amount of the operating oil supplied to the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and also the flow amount of the operating oil discharged from the second fluid pressure chamber 32 are limited so as not to increase more than a predetermined value. In this way, the second stopper portion 22e acts in such a manner as to limit the discharge flow amount of the second fluid pressure chamber 32 when the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes small, and corresponds to a flow amount limiting member. Accordingly, the cam ring 4 slowly moves in a direction of decreasing the eccentric amount to the rotor 2. By thus restricting the movement of the spool 22 by the second stopper portion 22e, it is possible to restrict the oscillation of the cam ring 4, thereby restricting the variation of the discharge flow amount in the vane pump 100.

Adjusting a length of the second stopper portion 22e causes the limitation of the flow amount of the operating oil passing through the control valve 21 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes small. That is, as the second stopper portion 22e becomes longer, the flow amount of the operating oil passing through the control valve 21 is reduced.

When the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes smaller, the outer peripheral surface of the cam ring 4 abuts on the swelling portion 12 in the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 to restrict the movement of the cam ring 4. In consequence, the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is minimized and therefore the pump chamber 7 is to discharge the operating oil at the minimum discharge displacement.

In this way, the vane pump 100 is controlled to the pump discharge displacement in accordance with the pressure difference between before and after of the orifice 28 in the discharge passage 19 and the discharge displacement thereof gradually reduces in response to an increase of the rotation speed of the rotor 2. In a case where the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is minimized, the vane pump 100 discharges the operating oil at the minimum discharge displacement. Thereby, the operating oil is appropriately controlled to be supplied to the hydraulic equipment at a vehicle running time.

In a state where the rotor 2 is being stopped, that is, the vane pump 100 is being stopped, the cam ring 4 stops at a position where the pressure in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 balances with the pressure in the second fluid pressure chamber 32. Even in this case, the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 does not become a zero or less because of the swelling portion 12 defining the minimum eccentric amount. Therefore, also at a starting time of the vane pump 100 when the power of the engine is transmitted to the drive shaft 1 to start the rotation of the rotor 2, the vane pump 100 stably starts discharge of the operating oil.

As described above, at the pump starting time the vane pump 100 discharges the operating oil at the maximum discharge displacement by the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 all the time introduced into the second fluid pressure chamber 32. Even in a case where the discharge displacement thereof gradually reduces with an increase of the rotation speed of the rotor 2 and the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 reaches to the minimum value, the vane pump 100 discharges the operating oil at the minimum discharge displacement because of the swelling portion 12.

A discharge flow amount characteristic of the vane pump 100 is shown in a graph in FIG. 6. In FIG. 6, a lateral axis shows time and a longitudinal axis shows a discharge flow amount.

As described above, when the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes small, that is, when the discharge flow amount is reduced, by restricting the movement of the spool 22 by the second stopper portion 22e, the flow amount of the operating oil supplied to the first fluid pressure chamber 31 and the flow amount of the operating oil discharged from the second fluid pressure chamber 32 are limited. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the response at the time of reducing the discharge flow amount is degraded. However, since the cam ring 4 moves slowly as much as the flow amount limitation, the oscillation of the discharge flow amount can be sufficiently restricted.

Therefore, in the vane pump 100, for improving the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount, it is possible to increase a flow passage area in the discharge passage of the operating oil in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes large. More specially it is possible to increase an open area of the communicating passage 22g formed in the first land portion 22a. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount is excellent.

Since the oscillation of the discharge flow amount at the time of decreasing the discharge flow amount is thus sufficiently restricted, the possibility of the oscillation in the discharge flow amount at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount is reduced even if the open area of the communicating passage 22g is increased. Therefore, it is possible to improve the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount.

There will be explained the reason the possibility of the oscillation in the discharge flow amount at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount is reduced even if the open area of the communicating passage 22g is increased. When the open area of the communicating passage 22g is large at the time the discharge flow amount is increased, the cam ring 4 quickly moves in a direction of increasing the eccentric amount. However, when the cam ring 4 swings back in a direction of decreasing the eccentric amount after that, since the movement of the spool 22 is restricted by the second stopper portion 22e, the cam ring 4 slowly moves. Therefore, the oscillation of the discharge flow amount is restricted at the time the discharge flow amount is increased. In this way, the second stopper portion 22e acts to restrict the oscillation of the discharge flow amount at the time the discharge flow amount is reduced and to restrict also the oscillation of the discharge flow amount at the time the discharge flow amount is increased.

As described above, the vane pump 100 shows the discharge flow amount characteristic that at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount, the response is excellent and also the oscillation of the discharge flow amount is restricted.

According to the above embodiment, the effect shown below can be achieved.

The vane pump 100 is provided with the second stopper portion 22e for limiting the discharge flow amount of the operating oil in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes small. Therefore, a rapid movement of the cam ring 4 can be restricted to restrict the oscillation of the discharge flow amount. Further, since the oscillation of the discharge flow amount is restricted by the second stopper portion 22e, it is possible to increase the open area of the communicating passage 22g as the discharge passage of the operating oil in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 for improving the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount. In this way, there is provided the variable displacement vane pump which can restrict the oscillation of the discharge flow amount and also improve the response at the time of increasing the discharge flow amount.

In a case where a rapid variation of the discharge pressure causes a rapid movement of the spool 22, since the movement of the spool 22 is restricted by the second stopper portion 22e, an excessive compression of the return spring 26 can be controlled. As a result, the damage of the return spring 26 is prevented to improve a lifetime thereof.

Hereinafter, other embodiments in the present invention will be shown.

As the flow amount limiting member for limiting the discharge flow amount of the operating oil in the second fluid pressure chamber 32 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes small, an orifice 40 for applying resistance to the operating oil passing through the second fluid pressure passage 34 may be, as shown in FIG. 7, provided instead of the second stopper portion 22e. Since the orifice 40 acts to limit the flow amount of the operating oil discharged from the second fluid pressure chamber 32 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 is reduced, the orifice 40 achieves the same effect as the second stopper portion 22e.

For regularly introducing the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 to the second fluid pressure chamber 32, regular communication between the second fluid pressure chamber 32 and the second spool chamber 25 may be carried out instead of the provision of the narrow passage 36. With this construction, the operating oil in the high-pressure chamber 18 is regularly introduced through the second spool chamber 25 into the second fluid pressure chamber 32.

As shown in FIG. 8, by abolishing the communicating passage 22g formed in the first land portion 22a, the first fluid pressure passage 33 and the circular groove 22c may be constructed to be directly communicated with each other. In this construction, for increasing the flow passage area in the discharge passage of the operating oil in the first fluid pressure chamber 31 at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 becomes large, a thickness of the first land portion 22a is reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, the swelling portion 12 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the adapter ring 11 for preventing the eccentric amount of the cam ring 4 to the rotor 2 from being a zero or less. Instead of this swelling portion 12, a spring for always urging the cam ring 4 in a direction of increasing the eccentric amount to the rotor 2 may be provided to be inserted into the adapter ring 11.

While only the selected preferred embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments according to the present invention is provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A variable displacement vane pump having a rotor connected to a drive shaft, a plurality of vanes provided in the rotor so as to be capable of reciprocating in a diameter direction of the rotor, a cam ring for accommodating the rotor therein, the cam ring having a cam face in an inner surface thereof on which a front portion of the vane slides by rotation of the rotor and being made eccentric to a center of the rotor, and a pump chamber defined between the rotor and the cam ring, wherein an eccentric amount of the cam ring to the rotor changes, thereby changing a discharge displacement of the pump chamber, the variable displacement vane pump comprising: a first fluid pressure chamber and a second fluid pressure chamber which are defined in an accommodating space in the outer periphery of the cam ring, wherein the cam ring is made eccentric to the rotor by a pressure difference between the first fluid pressure chamber and the second fluid pressure chamber;a control valve which operates in response to a pump discharge pressure for controlling a pressure of an operating fluid in each of the first fluid pressure chamber and the second fluid pressure chamber;a first fluid pressure passage communicated with the first fluid pressure chamber;a second fluid pressure passage communicated with the second fluid pressure chamber; anda flow amount limiting member for limiting a discharge flow amount of the operating fluid from the second fluid pressure chamber to a drain passage at the time the eccentric amount of the cam ring to the rotor becomes small by supplying the operating fluid to the first fluid pressure chamber through the first fluid pressure passage and discharging the operating fluid from the second fluid pressure chamber to the drain passage through the second fluid pressure passage.

2. The variable displacement vane pump according to claim 1, further comprising: an orifice for applying resistance to a flow of the operating fluid discharged from the pump chamber, wherein:the control valve comprises: a spool moving in response to a pressure difference between before and after the orifice;a first spool chamber and a second spool chamber defined at both ends of the spool, wherein a fluid upstream of the orifice is introduced into the first spool chamber and a fluid downstream of the orifice is introduced into the second spool chamber; andan urging member accommodated in the second spool chamber for urging the spool in a direction of expanding a displacement of the second spool chamber, wherein:the spool moves to compress the urging member in such a manner that the operating fluid discharged from the pump chamber is supplied to the first fluid pressure chamber and the operating fluid in the second fluid pressure chamber is discharged with the increase of the rotation speed of the rotor; andthe flow amount limiting member includes a movement restricting member for restricting the movement of the spool in a direction of contracting the displacement of the second spool chamber.

3. The variable displacement vane pump according to claim 2, wherein: the movement restricting member includes a stopper portion which is arranged in the second spool chamber so as to be connected to the spool and abuts on an end of a valve accommodating hole in which the control valve is accommodated.

4. The variable displacement vane pump according to claim 1, further comprising: an orifice for applying resistance to a flow of the operating fluid discharged from the pump chamber, wherein:the control valve comprises: a spool moving in response to a pressure difference between before and after the orifice;a first spool chamber and a second spool chamber defined at both ends of the spool, wherein the operating fluid upstream of the orifice is introduced into the first spool chamber and the operating fluid downstream of the orifice is introduced into the second spool chamber; andan urging member accommodated in the second spool chamber for urging the spool in a direction of expanding a displacement of the second spool chamber, wherein:the spool moves to compress the urging member in such a manner that the operating fluid discharged from the pump chamber is supplied through the first fluid pressure passage to the first fluid pressure chamber and the operating fluid in the second fluid pressure chamber is discharged through the second fluid pressure passage with the increase of the rotation speed of the rotor; andthe flow amount limiting member includes an orifice interposed in the second fluid pressure passage.